An overhead transport vehicle system includes an upper track, a lower track below the upper track in the vertical direction, and a transport vehicle to travel along the upper track and the lower track. The overhead transport vehicle system includes a placement portion on the upper surface of the lower track and to which an article can be transported from the transport vehicle stopped on the upper track.

An article transport facility includes article transport vehicles that travel along a specified travelable path, and a control device that controls the article transport vehicles. The travelable path includes nodes and links each connecting a pair of the nodes. The control device sets a setting path based on a link cost that is set for each of the links. The link cost includes a reference cost and a variable cost. The reference cost is a value that is set based on a reference passage time that is required for a target vehicle to pass through a target link in a state in which another vehicle is not present in the target link. The variable cost is a value that is set based on a vehicle count-related increased time by which an actual passage time is increased relative to the reference passage time according to the number of the other vehicles present in the target link, the actual passage time being a time required for the target vehicle to pass through the target link.

An article transport facility includes article transport vehicles that travel along a specified travelable path, and a control device that controls the article transport vehicles. The travelable path includes nodes and links each connecting a pair of the nodes. The control device sets a setting path based on a link cost that is set for each of the links. The link cost includes a reference cost and a variable cost. The reference cost is a value that is set based on a reference passage time that is required for a target vehicle to pass through a target link in a state in which another vehicle is not present in the target link. The variable cost is a value that is set based on a vehicle count-related increased time by which an actual passage time is increased relative to the reference passage time according to the number of the other vehicles present in the target link, the actual passage time being a time required for the target vehicle to pass through the target link.

Method for controlling altitude of a vehicle moving along a segmented track. The method including receiving, at a controller, data generated by one or more sensors and determining, at the controller, an altitude of the vehicle relative to the segmented track. The method then receives, at the controller, data relating to the length of a track segment between two or more supports and the weight of the vehicle and determining, at the controller, a speed of the vehicle relative to the length of the track segment. The method also calculating, at the controller, the deflection of the segmented track between two supports based on the length of the track segment, the weight of the vehicle, and the speed of the vehicle. The controller adjusts the altitude of the vehicle relative to the segmented track by an offset equivalent to the deflection of the segmented track thereby maintaining a constant altitude.

Method for controlling altitude of a vehicle moving along a segmented track. The method including receiving, at a controller, data generated by one or more sensors and determining, at the controller, an altitude of the vehicle relative to the segmented track. The method then receives, at the controller, data relating to the length of a track segment between two or more supports and the weight of the vehicle and determining, at the controller, a speed of the vehicle relative to the length of the track segment. The method also calculating, at the controller, the deflection of the segmented track between two supports based on the length of the track segment, the weight of the vehicle, and the speed of the vehicle. The controller adjusts the altitude of the vehicle relative to the segmented track by an offset equivalent to the deflection of the segmented track thereby maintaining a constant altitude.

Transfer equipment for self-propelled cars on a route network similar to an elevated railway. The route network includes at least one track element and at least one intersection, turning or end point, in the region of which the self-propelled car can be transferred from the at least one track element onto an adjustably arranged support unit.

Transfer equipment for self-propelled cars on a route network similar to an elevated railway. The route network includes at least one track element and at least one intersection, turning or end point, in the region of which the self-propelled car can be transferred from the at least one track element onto an adjustably arranged support unit.

A first carriage is provided with a support rail that supports a main body, and is configured to travel together with a second carriage that includes the main body along the first path, in a supporting state that is a state of supporting the main body, using the support rail. In a state where the first carriage is located at a connection part of the first path, which is connected to the second path, the support rail is located on an extension line of the travel rail.

A first carriage is provided with a support rail that supports a main body, and is configured to travel together with a second carriage that includes the main body along the first path, in a supporting state that is a state of supporting the main body, using the support rail. In a state where the first carriage is located at a connection part of the first path, which is connected to the second path, the support rail is located on an extension line of the travel rail.

A travel path of an article transport facility provided with a plurality of article transport vehicles that travel along the travel path and transport articles, and a control device that controls operation of the article transport vehicles includes a path set in an inspection area for causing a target transport vehicle designated as an inspection target from among the plurality of article transport vehicles to travel along. The target transport vehicle includes a sensor that detects behavior of the target transport vehicle during travel. The control device controls the plurality of article transport vehicles such that only the one target transport vehicle is present in the inspection area, and causes the target transport vehicle to travel in the inspection area in an inspection travel pattern prescribed in advance.